Event
Worcester v. Georgia
Case of 1832 in which the Supreme Court held that Georgia’s laws had no force in the Cherokee Nation.
- Dates
- 1832
Connections 5
involved
- U.S. Supreme Court held Georgia’s law void Primary record 1
- John Marshall wrote the opinion Primary record 1
- Samuel Worcester plaintiff in error Primary record 12
- Georgia released the missionaries only after a pardon in January 1833 Primary record 234
includes
- Opinion in Worcester v. Georgia Primary record 1
Timeline 1 date
- 1832 Worcester v. Georgia
Proof 4 sources
-
Worcester v. Georgia, 31 U.S. 515 (1832), Supreme Court of the United States (text via Cornell LII), 1832.
Primary record
The act of the state of Georgia, under which the plaintiff in error was prosecuted, is consequently void, and the judgment a nullity.
Mr Chief Justice MARSHALL delivered the opinion of the Court.
The Cherokee nation, then, is a distinct community occupying its own territory, with boundaries accurately described, in which the laws of Georgia can have no force
the court sentenced him to hard labour, in the penitentiary, for the term of four years.
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Worcester v. Georgia (1832), New Georgia Encyclopedia (Georgia Humanities).
Scholarship & press
The missionaries, represented by lawyers hired by the Cherokee Nation, appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
After intense pressure from the governor, the American Board, and their lawyers, the missionaries gave up on their Cherokee campaign, accepted a pardon, and were released from prison in January 1833.
The state annexed the Cherokee lands; abolished their government, courts, and laws; and established a process for seizing Cherokee land and distributing it to the state’s white citizens.
President Jackson did not enforce the decision against the state
The decision of the supreme court has fell still born, and they find that it cannot coerce Georgia to yield to its mandate.
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What Happened on the Trail of Tears?, National Park Service, Trail of Tears National Historic Trail.
Primary record
Georgia held lotteries to give Cherokee land and gold rights to whites.
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Preludes to the Trail of Tears, National Park Service.
Primary record
President Jackson threw his support to Georgia in ignoring the Supreme Court.
Page history 1 change
- Add 55 stories, each checked against its sources96e92fe6
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